Portable building structure



PORTABLE B UILDING STRUCTURE Original Filed Jan. 51, 1944 l5 l9 1 l8 INVENTOR. 20 WARD CLINTON 5mm- 7 i; Mr g v v ATTORNEYS Patented June 4, 1946 PORTABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE Ward Clinton Smith, Detroit, Mich., assignor to StoutHouses, Incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application January 31, 1944, Serial No. 520,491, i which is a division of application Serial No. 483,636, April 19, 1943. Divided and this application October 30, 1944,

Serial No. 560,967

6 Claims. (01. 108-12) 'Thisinvention relates generally t Portable building structures of the type that may be transportedor shipped by the manufacturer in unassembled or :knockdowncondition and may be readilyland quicklyassembled by unskilled labor wherever they are-to be erected or used, and constitutesa division of my application filed January 31, 19,44, bearing Serial :No. 520,491, which is a division-aof my application filed April 19, 1943, bearing*Serial:No.48,3,636.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide a sectional roof structure wherein an-improvedtjoint between .theroof sections enables narrower roof sections to be employedthan heretofore.

Another object is to provide a roof structure whereinthe joint between the roof sections includes means for urging the roof sections into proper assembled relation with an intermediate common supporttherefor.

Another object is'to provide a roof structure whereinthe joint between the roof sections includes means for carrying to the outer side of a supporting wall for said sections any moisture seeping down the joints between tions.

Another object is to provide a roof structure that is-simple in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to-erect, and efficient in use.

Otherobjects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

' Fig. .1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a building structure embodying my invention;

said roof sec- =Fig. 2is a cross sectional view through the structure.

flRel'erringnow to the drawing, A is an upright wall; Band C respectively are adjacent roof sections extending over said wall, D is a rafter on said wall and serving as a common support for said roofsections, E and F respectively are filler strips on .top of saidrafterbetweenthe roof sections, and H is a batten or cover strip for the joint between the roof sections.

,Asshowmthe upright wall A has adjacent sections l0 and II respectively-and a cover'strip I 2 concealingthe jointbetween said sections, however such Wall may beany suitable construction, as-desired.

The room sections B and C haveroof panels 3 l3 and 14 respectively provided at their adjacent edges .withlongitudinaHy extending frame memhers-i5 and respectively having tongues, I5

and 20 respectively that catch and carry to the 1 outside of the upright wall Aany moisture draining down from the adjacent edges of said roof sections. Preferably the outer side Walls 2| and 22 respectively of the grooves 19 and 20 are in,- clined and serve as cams for the tongues I 5' and 16' to urge the frame members l5 and I6 respectively of the roof sections into proper assembled relation against the rafter D. t

The filler strips E and F are in edge to edge relation on top of the rafter D between and in edge to edge relation with the panels 13 and M respectivelyof the roof sections, whilethe cover strip H is on top of the filler-strips E and F and overlaps the panels l3 and M of the roof sections.

that the tongues l5 and I6 of the roof sections will be in separate grooves or channels l9 and 20 respectively at opposite side edges of the intermediate rafter D, instead of meeting or abutting in a single channel or groove at the center of the rafter. Hence, the connections between the roof sections '3 and C and intermediate rafter D permit narrower roof sections to be used than heretofore. As a result, a substantial saving in the cost of roof panels, such as 13 and I 4 respectively is obtained. Moreover, the tongue and groove connections between the roof sections and the rafter are such that the grooves l9 and 20 not only receive and hold the tongues 15' and I6, but also serve as drainage channels for moisture seeping down from adjacent edges of the roof sections. In addition, the outer walls 2| and 22 respectively of thegrooves serve as cams for the tongues l5 and Iii to urge the roof sections into a proper assembled relation with the intermediate rafter D. The cover strip H conceals the connections between the roof sections andrafter to provide a neat appearance, and the securing; elements 23 for such cover strip cooperate therewith and with the panel sections adjacent side edges of the rafter with thereof with longitudinally extending lateral projections, the upper faces of said projections being provided throughout their length beside the adjacent side edges of the rafter with'upwardly extendin drainage 1 opening longitudinally grooves and provided along the outer sides of and substantially parallel to said grooves with longitudinally extending upstanding tongues, the outer side walls of said grooves being inclined upwardly and outwardly, roofpanelsio'verlying' and I projecting laterally, outward from :said lateral projections, said roof panels being spaced lat-- erally apart and provided at their adjacent edges with elongated frame members of inverted substantially L cross sectionythe bases of said inverted L-shaped members being I provided throughout their leng'that their outer edges with depending longitudinally [extending tongues and provided along the'inner sides of and substantially: parallel to said depending tongues with longitudinally extending downwardly opening grooves, said depending tongues engaging the upwardly opening roovesaforesaid and'forced by the inclined outer side walls thereofagainst opposite side edges of saidrafter, the depth of said depending, tongues being less than the depth of said drainage grooves whereby a drainage space is provided between said depending tonguesand the bottom ofsaid grooves for'water from the roof panels, said downwardly opening grooves receiving the upstanding tongues aforesaid and cooperating with the tongue and groove connection previouslymentioned to provide dual interlocks between the roof panels/and said rafter at opposite side edges, of the latter, means on the rafter filling the space between the'roof panels, and a batten strip overlapping said fillingmeans and roof panels and secured to the latter.

2. A roof structure comprising a rafter provided throughout its length at opposite side edges thereof with longitudinally extending lateral being provided throughout their length beside the opening longitudinally extending drainage grooves and provided along the outer sides of and substantially parallel to said grooves with longitudinally extending upstanding tongues, the outer side walls of said grooves being inclined upwardly and outwardly, roof panels overlying and projecting laterally outward from said lateral projections, said roof panels being'provided at their adjacent edges with elongated frame members of inverted substantially L 'crosssection,

the bases of said inverted Lshaped members being provided throughout their length at their outer edges with depending longitudinally extending tongues and provided along the inner sides of and substantially parallel to said depending tongues with longitudinallyextending downwardly opening grooves, said depending tongues engaging the upwardly opening grooves aforesaid and forced by the inclined outer side walls thereof against opposite side edges of said rafter, the depth of said depending tongues being less than the depth of said drainage grooves whereby a drainage space is provided between said depending tongues and the bottoms of said grooves for water from the roof panels, said downwardly upwardly 4 4 opening grooves receiving the upstanding tongues aforesaid and cooperating with the tongue and groove connection previously mentioned to provide dual interlocks between the roof panels and said, rafter at opposite side edges of the latter, and a batten strip overlapping adjacent edges of said roof panels and secured to the latter.

A roof structure comprising a rafter provided at opposite side edges thereof with longitudinally extending lateral projections, the upper faces 'of-saidprojections being provided beside the adjacent side edges of the rafter with upwardly opening longitudinally extending drain- ;agegrooves and provided along the outer sides of said grooves with longitudinally extending up,

standing tongues, the outer side walls of said grooves beinginclined upwardly and outwardly,

projections, the upperfaces of said projections roof panels overlying and projecting laterally outward from said lateral projections, said roof panels being provided at their adjacent edges with elongated frame members of inverted' 'substantially 'L cross section, the bases of, 'said inverted L-shaped members being provided at their outer edges with depending longitudinally1 ex'- tending tongues and'provided-along the inner sides of saiddepending tongues with longitudinally extending downwardly opening grooves, said depending tongues engaging the upwardly opening grooves aforesaid andforcedby the inclined outer side walls thereof against" opposite side edges of said rafter, said'downwardly opening grooves receiving the upstanding': tongues aforesaid and 'coperating withthe'fztongueland groove connection previously mentionedato'p'rovide dual interlocks between the roof panels and said rafter at opposite side edgeslof the-latter, and a batten strip overlapping adjacent 'edg'es of said roof panels and secured to the latter. i

4. A roof structure .comprisinga rafter pro vided at opposite side edges thereof with-longitudinally extending 1atera1 'projections,"theupper faces of said projections being provided beside the adjacent side edges of the; rafter with-upwardly opening longitudinally. extending drain age grooves and'provided at the outer sideszof said grooves with longitudinally extendingupstanding tongues, the outer-side walls: 'of. said grooves being inclined upwardly -and=outwardl'y',

roof panels overlying and projecting laterally' outward from said lateral projections-said roof panels being provided at their adjacent-edges with depending longitudinally extending tongues V aforesaid and forced by the inclined 'outerside walls thereof against opposite side edges ao'fsaid rafter, said downwardly opening grooves receiving the upstanding tonguesaforesaidand' cooperating with the tongue and groove connection previously mentioned to provide dual interlocks between the roof panels" and said rafter at opposite side edges of the 1atter,and a batten strip overlapping adjacent edges "of said'roof panels and secured to the latter. r

5. A roof structure comprising a rafter provided at opposite side edges thereof with longitudinally extending lateral projections, the upper faces of said projections being provided'beside the adjacent side edges of the rafter 'witli upwardly opening longitudinally extending'drainage grooves andprovided at the outer sideslof said grooves with longitudinally rextend ing upstanding tongues, roof panels overlying and projecting laterally outward from said lateral projections, said roof panels being provided at their adjacent edges with depending longitudinally extending tongues and provided along the inner sides of said depending tongues with longitudinally extending downwardly opening grooves, said depending tongues engaging the upwardly opening grooves aforesaid, said downwardly opening grooves receiving the upstanding tongues aforesaid and cooperating with the tongue and groove connection previously mentioned to provide dual interlocks between the roof panels and said rafter at opposite side edges of the latter, and a batten strip overlapping adjacent edges of said roof panels and secured to the latter.

6. A roof structure comprising a rafter provided at opposite side edges thereof with longitudinally extending lateral projections, the upper faces of said projections being provided beside the adjacent side edges of the rafter opening longitudinally extending drainage with upwardly g 6 grooves and provided at the outer sides of said rooves with longitudinally extending upstanding tongues, roof panels overlying and projecting laterally outward from said lateral projections, said roof panels being provided at their adjacent edges with elongated frame members having depending longitudinally extending tongues and provided along the inner sides of said depending tongues with longitudinally extending downwardly opening grooves, said depending tongues engaging the upwardly opening grooves aforesaid, said downwardly opening grooves receiving the upstanding tongues aforesaid and cooperating with the tongue and groove connection previously i mentioned to provide dual interlocks between the roof panels and said rafter at opposite side edges of thelatter, and a batten strip overlapping adjacent edges of said roof panels and secured to the latter.

WARD CLINTON SMITH. 

